Ghana is facing a stubborn youth unemployment crisis that refuses to go away, even as the country records modest improvements in overall job creation. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Statistics released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the unemployment rate dropped slightly from 14.6% in 2023 to 13.6% in 2024. But behind those figures lies a deeper problem — too many young people are still unable to find meaningful work.
The report shows that more than one in five young Ghanaians between the ages of 15 and 35 are jobless. Government Statistician, Alhassan Iddrisu, noted that while jobs are being created, many of them are informal, unstable, and offer little career growth. This means thousands of graduates and first-time jobseekers remain stuck in a cycle of frustration, struggling to transition into secure employment.
Interestingly, the data also revealed a gender shift in the labour market. Women now outpace men in employment by over 1.1 million jobs, compared to a gap of just 632,000 in 2022. While this shows positive strides in women’s labour participation, it also highlights that both genders continue to face the broader challenge of job insecurity.
Experts say urgent reforms are needed. The GSS has called on government to expand apprenticeship programs, graduate employment initiatives, and strengthen vocational and technical education to better prepare the youth for opportunities in digital, industrial, and green economy sectors. Affordable credit for SMEs — especially those run by young people and women — was also highlighted as a game-changer for sustainable job creation.
These warnings echo a recent World Bank report, which cautioned that Ghana’s economic future depends heavily on private-sector-led growth. Without urgent action, the country risks sidelining its young generation — a scenario that could threaten both stability and long-term progress.
